RPO -- Ben Jonson : A Hymn to God the Father

Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

A Hymn to God the Father

1Hear me, O God!

2A broken heart

3Is my best part.

4Use still thy rod,

5That I may prove

6Therein thy Love.

7If thou hadst not

8Been stern to me,

9But left me free,

10I had forgot

11Myself and thee.

12For sin's so sweet,

13As minds ill-bent

14Rarely repent,

15Until they meet

16Their punishment.

17Who more can crave

18Than thou hast done?

19That gav'st a Son,

20To free a slave,

21First made of nought;

22With all since bought.

23Sin, Death, and Hell

24His glorious name

25Quite overcame,

26Yet I rebel

27And slight the same.

28But I'll come in

29Before my loss

30Me farther toss,

31As sure to win

32Under His cross.

Notes

1] Works, 1640. After 1635 the poem became an anthem in one of the royal chapels, with musical setting by William Cross. It was imitated by Herrick in An Ado or Psalm to God, beginning: "Dear God, If thy smart rod/Here did not make me sorry/.... "

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Ben Jonson, The workes of Benjamin Jonson (London: R. Bishop, sold by A. Crooke, 1640). STC 14754. stc Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto). Also British Library copy as microfilmed in English Books 1475-1640. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms. P & R 14754 * 20250.
First publication date: 1640
RPO poem editor: F. D. Hoeniger
RP edition: 3RP 1.164.
Recent editing: 4:2002/4/3

Rhyme: abbacc abbab ...

Other poems by Ben Jonson